Method and apparatus for three-dimensional imaging
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorJoshua A. Kablotsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for imaging three-dimensional scenes and objects by detecting reflections from emitted sequences of electromagnetic radiation. At least one transmitter is provided for emitting a sequence of electromagnetic radiation, and at least three sensors are provided for detecting radiation reflected from the scene and objects being imaged. Signals based on the detected radiation are used, together with spatial information of the transmitters and sensors, to calculate reflectivity coefficients for points of interest in the scene. Velocity vectors associated with moving objects within the scene can also be determined based on the rate of change of the phase differences between the emitted and reflected radiations.
Claims14
A method for imaging a scene, the method comprising:
- sending a sequence of electromagnetic radiation from at least one transmitter;
- detecting reflections of the sequence from the scene using at least three sensors, wherein at least one sensor is not co-linear with the other sensors;
- calculating a reflectivity coefficient for each point of interest in the scene based on the detected reflections;
- generating a representation of the scene based on the reflective coefficients;
- and
- at least one of storing the representation in a memory arrangement or displaying the representation of the scene on a display device.
A method for imaging a scene, the method comprising:
- sending a distinct sequence of electromagnetic radiation from each of at least three transmitters, wherein at least one transmitter is not co-linear with the other transmitters;
- detecting reflections of the sequences from the scene using at least one sensor;
- calculating a reflectivity coefficient for each point of interest in the scene based on the detected reflections;
- generating a representation of the scene based on the reflective coefficients;
- and
- at least one of storing the representation in a memory arrangement or displaying the representation of the scene on a display device.
A system for imaging a scene, the system comprising:
- at least one transmitter configured to send a sequence of electromagnetic radiation toward the scene;
- at least three sensors configured to detect reflections of the sequence from the scene, wherein at least one sensor is not co-linear with the other sensors;
- and
- a processing arrangement configured to:
- (a) calculate a reflectivity coefficient for each point of interest in the scene based on the detected reflections;
- (b) generate a representation of the scene based on the reflective coefficients;
- and
- (c) at least one of store the representation in a memory arrangement or display the representation on a display device.
A system for imaging a scene, the system comprising:
- at least three transmitters, wherein each transmitter is configured to send a distinct sequence of electromagnetic radiation toward the scene, and wherein at least one transmitter is not co-linear with the other transmitters;
- at least one sensor configured to detect reflections of the sequences from the scene;
- and
- a processing arrangement configured to:
- (a) calculate a reflectivity coefficient for each point of interest in the scene based on the detected reflections;
- (b) generate a representation of the scene based on the reflective coefficients;
- and
- (c) at least one of store the representation in a memory arrangement or display the representation on a display device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.